Page 57 of Black Crown

Did I think that one day I’d be flying next to Lord Nightmare listening to his jokes about squirrels? Not for a second. Obviously, it was the little things for him.We’re heading the wrong way then. He’s the real enemy.

I agree, but in the meantime—Tyrrik swung his head forward and raised his chin—there is the first sign of Azule.

Really?I swiveled to see and grunted. I had to strain to make it out, but in the blurry limits of my vision, the mountain ranges stopped and the edges of a cobalt ocean shimmered on the horizon. Azule, as close to my father as we’d safely get. Though he’d shown physical distance wasn’t really a factor in controlling me, so maybe that didn’t matter as much as I thought.

I wonder what the plan is,I pondered through the mate bond.

No doubt they’ll fill us in.

I felt the stirring of determination and realized it wasn’t all coming from me and my ambition to fight this war the right way.You’re planning something?

Not so much planning, but with you involved and how far we’ve come . . . I’m not content to just go along with their plans.

So what you’re saying, to be clear, up until now you’ve been passively agreeing to everything?I snorted. Pretty sure Tyrrik wasn’t going along with anything. I didn’t even give him time to answer.Because I’m pretty sure I remember you’ve told every ruler you’d kill them if they didn’t do the right thing.

He chuffed, and I heard one of my passengers squeak. Tyrrik banked left, and I followed, still being careful of my sensitive cargo even if I did want one of them to be taken down a peg or six.

What I saw and what I can be bothered doing are different things. I’m invested now. I should’ve been a long time ago. The Drae are meant to be guardians of this land. I’ve been remiss in my duties.

The blood oath didn’t exactly give you the freedom to help people.

No. Now I am free to help though, and I believe I must make up ground.

I frowned at his words and turned my attention to the army.I spotted Dyter, his bald, shining head a beacon, and Zakai near him. Several soldiers unloaded stacks of neatly folded canvas, and dozens more converged to help.You want to help.You’re not doing that because you feel guilty, right?

Yes and no. I want the world to be safe for you, and . . . to some extent I feel a sense of responsibility to make reparation for the things I did under oath to Irdelron.

Tyrrik had nothing to apologize to me for, but I knew from experience he’d need to heal in his own way and in his own time.

Then let’s hop to it,I said brightly, increasing the angle of my descent.

My love, there’s no need to act happy when you feel sadness, not on my behalf.

Bloody bond.That’s not sadness, I lied, knowing I wasn’t fooling anyone.It’s indigestion. I ate too much . . . raw corn.

His amusement trickled through our bond, and we fell silent as we swooped down to land.

19

Tyrrik was already back to his two-legged version that made my knees weak and my insides all melty. I waited for my two passengers to disembark before shifting back and dropping the veil.

“Have fun?” I asked the twins.

Neither of them was smiling now.

“Not the word that comes to mind,” one answered. Niemoj, I assumed.

Tyrrik took my hand and, leaving the twins behind, we weaved through the army side-by-side, making our way toward a big tent. The Gemondians around us sat and ate, but I noticed many of them shiver or draw away from me and Tyrrik as we strode through their midst. They were human, mortal. And as surely as their ways were once my ways, to them we were predators, powerful and otherly, the most feared creatures in the realm.

I’d changed somewhere. Obviously I was a Phaetyn and a Drae now, yet my mind had changed too. Despite my best intentions to cling to the human life I’d had, my perception had altered. I didn’t see, think, or feel like a human any longer. I’d never thought like a Phaetyn though I did understand that part of me more now, thanks to Lani. And I still didn’t think entirely like a Drae. I was somewhere between.

And I was okay with that.Mistress Moons.Actually, having control of my own mind seemed like a good day at this point.

“There they are,” Tyrrik murmured, dropping his arm from my shoulders only to take my hand.

The Drae part of me got it. After a few hours without him, I was craving his physical touch as well. I squeezed his hand as we got to the clearing where the large tent stood.I’m glad I have you.

Tyrrik drew back the tent flap.And I, you.

---